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clause

clause

164 5.3
A separate part of a contract or law that gives a rule people must follow
  • noun
  • /klɔz/
  • Formal
translation icon : cláusula
  • He finds that the clause in question is plain, clear, and unambiguous.
  • Establishment clause
  • Commerce clause
  • Exercise clause

It's called a Mac clause on the company.

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Examples

  • Essentially what the due on sale clause says is that this mortgage is due whenever you sell it.

  • The Court had misconstrued the Establishment Clause to limit children's right to exercise their religion.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I mean, that kind of clause has no place in a contract.

  • In accordance with clause one of the Special Pardon Order, he is therefore to be released!

  • The legal department is using the morals clause to get out of your contract.

  • The specific wording of the clause is so vague that it is not clear what promotion exactly means.

  • There's no clause in the agreement to allow subletting.

  • We'll assume the cost of retrofitting the plants, but that still leaves the non-compete clause.

  • It's my client's position that Mr. Burton violated the professionalism clause of his contract, which is why he was terminated.

  • The contract contains a clause that prohibits any modifications without written consent.

Synonyms

term
vsclause
  • Formal
3.3

A condition or rule in an agreement that people must follow

is a single document section rather than a list of conditions
article
vsclause
  • Formal
314 3.4

A separate section of a legal document like a contract

is a general provision forming part of the same document
provision
vsclause
  • Formal
313 5.6

A rule in a contract or legal document

is a distinct document section that may express conditions too
stipulation
vsclause
  • Formal
18 6.6

A condition in an agreement that someone must follow

is about being a named document section rather than only a condition
proviso
vsclause
  • Formal
7 8.4

A condition written in a legal document that limits or allows something

is a broader document section that can contain many types of rules

Compounds

3 7.0

A part of a contract that says a neutral person outside the courts decides disagreements

1 7.5

An exception allowing existing people or things to stay under old rules when new ones start

escape clause
  • Formal
1 5.5

A part of a contract that lets one or both people cancel it in certain situations

main clause
  • Specialized
1 3.2

A part of a sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence

independent clause
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A part of a sentence that can stand alone and give a complete idea

relative clause
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A part of a sentence that gives more information about a noun and starts with who, which, or that

reserve clause
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A contract part that lets a team keep a player for one more year after it ends

restrictive clause
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A part of a sentence that gives essential information about a noun and is not set off by commas

subordinate clause
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A part of a sentence that cannot stand alone and works like a noun, adjective, or adverb

coordinate clause
  • Specialized
5.6

A part of a sentence that has same importance as another and is joined by words like and or but

dependent clause
  • Specialized
6.1

A group of words that cannot stand alone and acts like a noun, adjective, or adverb

descriptive clause
  • Specialized
6.8

A part of a sentence that gives extra information about a noun, usually set off by commas

7.9

A part of a law that lets officials enforce it

7.9

A part of a contract that lets wages, prices, or benefits rise automatically when the cost of living increases

final clause
  • Specialized
7.2

A part of a sentence that shows the reason for an action

nonrestrictive clause
  • Specialized
6.8

A part of a sentence that gives more information about a noun but does not change which noun we mean

How Specific

subclause
  • Specialized
5.3
clause
  • Formal
164 5.3
article
  • Formal
314 3.4
section
1.0
document
2.0

Surface Forms

clause singular
clauses plural

Etymology

Clause comes from Latin clausula, from claudere meaning 'to close' and is related to the English word close. In a contract a clause is a 'closed' section or rule inside the document, so the origin explains why it means a separate part.